Groundhog Day is Here Again

“I have been stabbed, shot, poisoned, frozen, hung, electrocuted, and burned. And every morning I wake up without a scratch on me, not a dent in the fender…” -Phil the Weatherman

How many of us can even hear the words “Groundhog Day” without thinking of Punxsutawney Phil, and poor Phil the Weatherman, doomed to endlessly relive the 2nd of February? Unfortunately for the rest of us, if we’re stabbed, shot, poisoned, frozen, hung, electrocuted, and/or burned, we don’t get a single Mulligan!

If Punxsutawney Phil (or, here in Raleigh, Sir Walter Wally) sees his shadow on February 2, that means we’ve got six extra weeks of winter coming—that means six extra weeks of potentially slippery surfaces, freezing temperatures, and downed trees and power lines. Since we don’t get do-overs, it’s our job to be prepared for those kinds of safety hazards.To that end, the NC Summit for Safety Leadership is taking place at the North Carolina Zoo on February 28- March 3, as part of the 20th Anniversary of the Manager of Environmental Safety and Health (MESH) Program. You can register to attend at safetync.org. We have 10 scholarships—yes, that means free seats!—that we will be able to give away on behalf of the Safety and Health Council. Contact southeasternoti@ncsu.edufor details. And remember… Don’t drive angry!

Stay safe and healthy!
Holli Singleton

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Holli Singleton is the Assistant Director of Safety & Health Services at NC State Industry Expansion Solutions. In addition to managing the services offered by the Safety and Health Specialists, she develops and presents workplace safety and health education courses, conducts work site assessments and provides occupational safety and environmental assistance to employers throughout the southeastern region of the United States.